SPOTLIGHT: Spc. Ross Andrew McGinnis
U.S. Army — Iraq War (Operation Iraqi Freedom)
June 14, 1987 – December 4, 2006
Hometowns: Born in Meadville, Pennsylvania; raised in Knox, Pennsylvania.
A Life of Courage and Selfless Service
Spc. Ross A. McGinnis served with 1st Platoon, C Company, 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division. On December 4, 2006, in Adhamiyah, northeast Baghdad, he deliberately threw himself onto a grenade hurled into his Humvee, sacrificing his life to save the four soldiers inside. For this act of valor, he received the Medal of Honor.
Decorations & Honors
Medal of Honor • Bronze Star Medal • Purple Heart
(Presented posthumously at the White House on June 2, 2008.)
Final Resting Place
Spc. McGinnis rests with honor at Arlington National Cemetery (Section 60, Site 8544).
Reflection
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
Spc. Ross McGinnis’s heroism embodies the highest ideals of service and sacrifice. We honor his memory, his Pennsylvania roots, and the lives he saved through his courage.
Sources for Readers
- U.S. Army Medal of Honor profile for Spc. Ross A. McGinnis (official). (Army)
- Congressional Medal of Honor Society biography (official). (Congressional Medal of Honor Society)
- White House ceremony (June 2, 2008) transcript/record. (George W. Bush White House Archives)
- Arlington National Cemetery listing (Section 60, Site 8544). (Arlington National Cemetery)
mickyspano.com/ and The Micky Spano Show proudly honor Specialist Ross A. McGinnis, United States Army, as Veteran of the Day, November 22, 2025, remembering his courage, his sacrifice, and the lives he saved by giving his own.
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